Injection Moulding vs Vacuum Casting for Limited Runs

What this page covers

• Injection moulding: a production mould, design review and trial moulding, suited to stable designs
• Vacuum casting: a silicone mould from a master pattern, polyurethane casting under vacuum, suited to a limited run
• Appearance: cast parts look and feel close to moulded parts, which makes casting a good bridge to moulding
• Timing: production mould timing is confirmed after the design review and mould assessment, not fixed in advance

What to confirm before ordering

Choose casting when the design may still change or the run is limited; choose moulding when the design is stable and the run justifies tooling. Before ordering, confirm minimum order quantity and lead time for your drawings.

Drawing checklist

Send the drawing with units and scale stated, the material and grade, the critical dimensions and tolerances marked, and the finish required. State the quantity you need checked and the question the part must answer: fit, function or appearance. Uploaded files are used only for the quotation, and non-disclosure agreements are supported.

Quality checks

Parts are inspected with a coordinate measuring machine, a projector and height gauges, with quality control at each production stage, and a dimension report can be provided for a project on request.